Psychosocial and clinical factors associated with diabetes self-management in type 2 diabetes

This study aimed to explore the psychosocial and clinical predictors of self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes. Using a cross-sectional design, 60 participants completed an online survey including sociodemographic data, the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Self-Stigma Scale (SSS), and Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Revised (DSC-R). Sleep duration and diabetes duration were also recorded. The average age was 59.53 ± 12.96 years; 51.7% were female and 65% were married. Correlation analysis showed that self-management was negatively associated with anxiety and self-stigma. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant model (p = 0.025), explaining 23.1% of the variance in self-management. Anxiety was a significant negative predictor (β = -0.34, p = 0.012), while, unexpectedly, depression positively predicted better self-management (β=+0.35, p = 0.014). Self-stigma was not a statistically significant independent predictor (β = -0.20, p = 0.097). Symptom burden, sleep duration, and diabetes duration were not also significant predictors. These findings highlight the important role of psychological factors in diabetes self-care, particularly the negative association between anxiety and self-management. The unexpected positive association observed for depression should be interpreted cautiously. Further research is needed to clarify the role of self-stigma and the complex relationships between psychological factors and diabetes self-management.